Buying a new vehicle can be a tough decision, and it’s not uncommon for business owners to wait until their current vehicle fails completely before buying a new one.
However, when it comes to business assets like refrigerated vans, most agree that it’s far better to plan in advance so that your fleet can quickly adapt to any new changes, rather than be forced into making a distress purchase due to an urgent need to get vehicles back on the road.
What time of year should you buy a new van?
Sometimes it can be easy to underestimate just how much of a difference the time of year can make to the cost of purchasing a new vehicle. For example, convertible cars are less popular in the autumn and winter because the weather conditions aren’t as good for their standout feature. On the other hand, convertibles can fetch a premium price during the summer months when lots of people want to ride with the roof down.
Similarly, temperature controlled vans tend to sell for more during the summer, when many businesses have a more pressing need for them due to the higher temperatures. For that reason alone it’s best to try to start looking as early in the season as possible, before all the best deals get snapped up.
Buying after the release of a new model
In some ways, refrigerated vans are just like any other product. Once a manufacturer has released a new flagship product, in this case, a new model of refrigerated van, it’s not unusual for the previous models to receive a significant price cut.
That means if the very latest features aren’t so much of a draw for you, you can make a tidy saving by looking at models a year or two behind. (Of course, if you’d prefer to stay on the cutting edge, we’ve got plenty of brand new fridge vans here at CoolKit too – we can cater to all tastes!)
Reasons to upgrade
If you have a van that’s doing the job just fine, it can be hard to justify the expense of a new vehicle. However, there are several other good reasons for upgrading your commercial van.
For example, a vehicle that is considered to be fuel-efficient upon its release might not be regarded as a fuel-efficient option a few years down the line, especially with ever-tightening emissions restrictions and new initiatives like the ULEZ. New freezer vans will almost certainly have better fuel efficiency than older models. If you’re willing to spend the money on a new van, it could lead to a reduction in your ongoing expenses.
In fact, since the introduction of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone across London, it has become very expensive for certain vehicle operators to take their vehicles into the capital. That means for many business owners, upgrading to a newer and more efficient vehicle can lead to some serious savings when travelling across London, far outweighing the short term costs.
The time of year and the circumstances in which you upgrade your fleet of vans can have a big impact on the amount of money that you pay. Think carefully about when to sell your existing vehicle and buy a new one. If you aren’t in a rush, wait for the most opportune time. And if you need any help or advice making your decision, we’re happy to help here at CoolKit.
